Electrotype-plate holder.



No. 802,288. PATENTED OC'L l'7 1905n F. H. HOFPSTEDT.

ELECTROTYPE PLATE HLDER,

APPLIUATION FILED 1320.26, 1903.

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FRlTHEOF H. HOFFSIEDT, OF SOMERVlLLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO lVILLIAM J'. MARSH, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHU- SETTS.

ELEGTWOTYPlE-PLATE HOLDER..

no. ceases.

Patented Oct. 1'?, 1905.

Application filed December 26, 1903. Serial No. 186 540.

.To a/ZZ wiz/017e it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, FniTi-rnor H. Horrs'rEDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and. useful Improvement in Electrotype-Plate Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has relation to the means which is employed in the process of printing for supporting electrotype and similar plates and holding the same secui'ely in position in readiness for taking impressions therefrom. At the present time there are in use devices comprising, essentially, a supporting-plate, termed a block, upon which the electrotype-plate or the like is laid, and catches or clamps serving to secure the said plate to the block, provision being made for shift and adjustment of the catches or clamps to accommodate the shape of the electrotype-plate and the position in which such plate is placed upon the block.

The general object of the invention is to provide means for the foregoing purpose and of the class refeired to of novel and improved character and construction. One special object oi' aim of the invention is to provide a construction which shall be less expensive to make than those heretofore employed. Another is to enable the catches or clamps to be applied to or removed from the block more conveniently than heretofore and to be adjusted quickly into any position. thereof which is required in order to enable the same properly to be engaged with the edge of an electrotype-plate or the like of any shape and occupying any desired position upon the block.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows in plan a grooved block and plate-holding clamps applied thereto, together with an electrotype-plate or the like lying upon the said block and engaged by the said clamps to hold it in place. Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3

is an isometric view of one of the members of the block which is employed in connection with a plate-clamp. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the other member of the said block. Fig. 5 isa similar view of the catch or plate-engaging member of a clamp.

Having reference to the drawings, in Figs. 1. and 2 an electrotype-plate is meant to be represented at A, and at l is represented a so-called block, which in practice usually is formed of metal, upon which the said plate A is mounted for support in a printing-press. The drawings show simply a plate A of oblong rectangular shape. It is of course well understood that in practice the sizes, proportions, and shapes of electrotype-plates and the like vary greatly and that the size of the block also varies in different cases. The edges of the plate A are shownparallel with those of the block; but it is well known that in practice the position of the plate upon the block may require to vary more or less. The block l is foiined with a series of grooves 2 2 in one surface thereof parallel with one another and extending across the plate at an angle to the edges of the latter. ln conformity with one feature of the invention these grooves 2 2 .are formed with the sides or walls thereof also parallel with each other in the direction of the thickness of the block l--that is to say, vertically-as shown best in the cross-sectional representation. The plate-holding clamps comprise, essentially, blocks which t within the said grooves 2 2 and are capable of being adjusted lengthwise along the said grooves into the required position, catches or plateengaging members to take against the edges of the plate A, and means of forcing the catches or plate-engaging members into firm engagement with the edges of the said plate A and also expanding the said blocks so as to cause the sid es of the same to bind against the opposite parallel side walls of the grooves and by frictional hold thereupon retain the clamps and plate A securely in place. The blocks may vary somewhat in form, proportions, and construction. ln the present embodiment of the invention they comprise each two members 3 and A. The acting faces 34 44 at the outer sides of the said members are formed to be parallel with each other in the direction of the height of the block in the expanded condition of the block, corresponding in this respect of parallelism IOO with the side walls of the groove 2, into which the block is placed. The faces 31 and 41 of the respective members make contact with each other. The said contacting surfaces are oblique or inclined, the Obliquity or inclination being in a direction to spread the members so as to increase the width of the block when member 4 is moved upward relative to member 3 and to permit the block to contract in width when the member 4 is moved downward with reference to member 3. Provision is made for preventing endwise displacement of member 4 relative to member 3. This may be effected variously. Preferably, though not necessarily, in all embodiments of the broader features of the invention, the member 3 is 'formed with end flanges 33 33, between which the member 4 enters. Separation of the two membersof a block by excessive vertical movement of one member relative to the other is provided for in convenient manner. Such separation is herein prevented by forming the inner faces of the end flanges 33 33 to converge slightly toward each other in an upward direction, the member 4 being formed with a slight upward taper to adapt it to fit properly between such converging faces. Complete separation of the members transversely is prevented herein by forming the said surfaces to converge slightly toward each other in a horizontal direction toward their outer ends and lforming the end surfaces of the member 4 with a corresponding convergence, although other means of accomplishing this result may be adopted in practice. The catch or plate-engaging member consists-of a plate 5 of suitable proportions, which last may vary in practice according to requirements, the said catch or plate-engaging member having a flat lower surface and having also a beveled edge 51 to engage with the beveled edge c of the electrotype-plate A. The catch or plate-engaging member 5 is formed with a hole 52, passing verticallyT therethrough, through which hole is passed the stem of a screw 6, the said stem being entered into a screw-threaded hole 42, that is tapped verticallyT in the member 4 of the block, a countersink being formed in the upper surface of the catch around the hole 52 to receive the head of the screw.

Tn the use of the invention the screw 6 of each clamp is turned out of the block member 4 far enough to render the parts 3, 4, and 5 of each clamp loose relative to one another. The electrotype-plate A having been laid upon the block l, the blocks of a suitable number of clamps are introduced into the grooves 2 2 and slid along within the Vsaid grooves into position to cause engagement'of the clamps with the different edges of the plate A. On tightening the screws 6 6 the catches 5 5 will be drawn down into contact vdition. lclamp-blocks enables the same to be made of 'comparatively small thickness, permitting with the edges of the plate A, and when such catches take a bearing against the said edges the screws will begin to draw the members 4 4 of the blocks up within the grooves 2 2. As the said members 4 4 are thus raised relative to the members 3 3 the action of the contacting oblique or inclined surfaces 3l 4l will increase the width of the blocks so as to cause their outer surfaces to take a frictional hold against the parallel walls of the grooves 2 2. For the purpose of making a shift of a clamp in the direction of the length of the containing groove 2 therefor it is necessary simply to loosen the screw 6 of such clamp slightly, which will permit the member 4 to be caused to descend sufliciently relative to member 3 to enable the block to contract in width. This will render the block loose within the groove, and it may then be slid lengthwise of the latter in either direction. It will be apparent that adjustment of the clamps lengthwise of the grooves 2 2 to suit any requiredv position of the plate A or any size or shape of such plate may be effected conveniently and expeditiously and without complete withdrawal of any of the screws 6 6 or the removal of any of the blocks from the grooves, the parallelism of the opposite walls of each groove in the directionof the thickness of the platethat is to say, in the direction of the height of the said walls-renders the grooving process less difficult and eX- pensive than would be the case if the grooves were'dovetailed or otherwise undercut. It also enables a block with its parts, including the catch, assembled and connected together to be inserted into a groove or removed therefrom at any point by simply a vertical movement when the block is in its collapsed con- The described construction of the the grooves 2 2 to be made comparatively narrow,` soasthereby to leave between them `portions ofconsiderable width of the full height of the block to afford complete support for the plate A.

A characteristic of the construction which is `described and shown herein is the fact that greatly to the convenience with which the clamp may be used in practice, since the members thereof1 do not tend to become separated and lost, no time is required to be expended in assembling the said members when it is desired to apply the clamps to the block 1,and when it is required to change the'clamp from one groove to another all that is necessary is to loosen the screw 6, so as Vtofpermit the clamp-block to be contracted in thickness, after which the clamp in its entirety may be lifted up and transferred tothe TOO IIO

aoaase other groove, the block 3 4 in contracted condition lifting readily out of the groove in which the same is first contained and slipping down into place in the other groove.

lf claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a grooved platesupporting block, of a holder for electrotypeplates and the like, having a top portion which engages the electrotype-plate, a body portion making contact with one wall of the groove in which it is placed and provided with laterally-projecting end flanges, an eX- panding member movable vertically between said end flanges and making contact with the other wall of said groove, and a screw passing through a hole in said top portion and in screw-thread engagement with said expanding member.

2. lfn a holder for electrotype-plates and the like, for use in printing, the combination with a plate-supporting block provided with grooves having parallel vertical walls, of a clamp comprising a plate-engaging member, having a flat lower face, and a clamp-block consisting of two relatively movable members having outer surfaces which are parallel with each other, to make frictional engagement with the parallel side walls of a groove in said plate-supporting block, and adjacent inclined surfaces, and operating means to force the plate-engaging member into contact with the plate to be held and expand the clamp-block in its groove.

3. In. a holder for electrotype-plates and the like, for use in printing, the combination with a plate-supporting block provided with grooves having parallel vertical walls, of a clamp comprising a plate-engaging member, having a flat lower face, and a clamp-block consisting of two relatively movable members having outer surfaces which are parallel with each other, to make frictional engagement with the parallel side walls of a groove in said plate-supporting block, and adjacent inclined surfaces, and operating means to force the plate-engaging member into contact with the plate to be held and expand the clamp-block in its groove, one member of said clamp-block having end. flanges embracing the other member of said block.

4. In a holder for electrotype-plates and the like, for use in. printing, the combination with a plate-supporting block provided with grooves having parallel vertical walls, of a clamp comprising a plate-engaging member and a clamp-block consisting of two relatively movable members having outer surfaces which are parallel with each other, to make frictional engagement with the parallel side walls of a groove in said plate-supporting block, and adjacent inclined surfaces, and a screw passing through said plate-engaging member and tapped in one member of said clamp block, to force the plate engaging member into contact with the plate to be held and expand the clamp -block in its groove.

5. In a holder for electrotype-plates and the like, for use in printing, the combination with a plate-supporting block provided with grooves having parallel vertical walls, of a clamp comprising a plate-engaging member and a clamp-block consisting of two relatively movable members having outer surfaces which are parallel with each other, to make frictional engagement with the parallel side walls of a groove in said plate-supporting block, and adjacent inclined surfaces, and a screw passing through said plateengaging member and tapped in one member of said clamp-block, to force the plateengaging member into contact with the plate to be held and expand the clamp-block in its groove, one member of said clamp-block having end flanges embracing the other member of said block.

6. In a holder for electrotype-plates and the like, for use in printing, the combination with a plate -supporting block provided with grooves, of clamps each of which comprises a plate-.engaging member, having a flat lower face, and a clamp-block consisting of two relatively movable members having adjacent inclined surfaces, and a screw passing through said plate-engaging member and tapped in one member of said clamp-block, and serving to force the plate-engaging member into contact with the plate to be held and expand the clamp-block in its groove.

7. In a holder for elcctrotype-plates and the like, for use in printing, the combination with a platesupporting block provided with grooves, of clamps each. of which comprises a plate-engaging member, having a flat lower face, and a clamp-block consisting of two relatively movable members having adjacent inclined surfaces, and operating means to force the plate-engaging member into contact with. the plate to be held and expand the clamp-block in its groove.

8. A plate-holder of the character described, comprising a base or block provided with slots, and plate -holding clamps arranged on said block, said clamps consisting of a plate, a screw upon which said plate is mounted to turn, a laterally-movable clamping member cooperating with a wall of said slot and independent of said plate to permit said plate to be turned on said screw after said clamping member is inserted in said slot, and means movable longitudinally on said screw and cooperating with said laterallymovable member to move the same into engagement with the wall of said slot.

9. A plate-holding clamp for plate-holders of the character described, consisting of a plate, a screw upon which said plate is mounted to turn, a mit movable longitudi- IOO IIO

nally on said Screw and provided with an inln testimony whereof I affix my signature elmed surface, and a Cooperating clamping member having an melmed surface which l l cooperates with the inclined surface oi" said l l l m presence of two Witnesses.

FRITHEOF H. HOFFSTEDT;

Witnesses 2 CHAS. F. RANDALL,v WILLIAM A. COPELWD 5 nut, said clamping membei` being separate from said plate and moved laterally by movement of the nut on said screw. 

